Airport bomb-sniffing unit on hold

Plans to use three bomb-sniffing dogs at Spokane’s airport have stalled because of a dispute over who would run the program.

Announced last summer, the new canine unit was supposed to start providing an added level of protection for airport travelers sometime in early 2006. The unit is funded through the federal Homeland Security Department’s Transportation Security Administration.

Airport officials want trained civilians to be the dog team handlers.

Spokane airport police officers believe their contract covers dog teams; they say the handlers should be commissioned airport police.

The cost of providing civilian handlers would be considerably less than adding three police officers, airport officials have said.

Airport board members earlier this month voted to suspend the process of creating the new unit pending resolution of the dispute.

Airport spokesman Todd Woodard said the board hopes to resolve the dispute and resume the job of finding handlers later this year.

The airport police association has filed an unfair labor practice grievance with state officials. Association President Travis Bunke said a hearing is set for April 25.

The start-up budget provided by the TSA for the Spokane program is more than $100,000.

With TSA money received so far, the airport has purchased three Chevrolet Tahoes that would move the bomb-sniffing teams around the airport grounds or respond to incidents in the community if needed. The vehicles cost a total of $98,000 and are parked unused in a garage, said Woodard.

Woodard said other issues still needing to be addressed include the salaries of the dog handlers and how the units will interact with other security personnel. Those issues cannot be raised until the labor grievance is resolved, he said.

While the airport has explosives-detection equipment, the dog teams would respond to reports of suspicious packages. They’d also be used if the TSA airport explosives-detection machines malfunction.